What is the purpose of a gift received? All of us have received something from someone else that we did not expect or did not seek. But this person knew us well enough to know what we needed and offered an undeserved gift. This is grace. Yet what is the purpose of that gift? What is our duty in possessing that gift? Does our spirit and gratitude align with the gift giver's purpose in granting the gift? If we simply toss that gift aside or worse yet, 'regift' it to another person later ... what does that say about how we value that gift? or value the person who granted that gift? What does ignoring the purpose of the gift say about our spirit toward the gift and the giver? The parable of the talents in the Olivet Discourse is a lesson from Jesus concerning the expectations of the master for the servants of the kingdom of heaven. But what is expected seems to be less what they 'do' with his property and more to do with their love for him. Disciples of Jesus Christ are called to faithful service out of humble love for the master; not slothful self service with no affection for the giver of good news. Let's dig into Matthew 24:14—30, the Parable of the Talents, to gleen how Christ will judge the faithful and the slothful on that great day of HIS coming. The faithful servants who truly love the LORD will escape wrathful judgment. Yet the wicked, slothful servants will succumb to God's righteous judgment.